Word
Falavam como se estivéssemos a encobrir o desvio.
Meaning
They spoke as if we were covering up the embezzlement.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Falavam como se estivéssemos a encobrir o desvio.
estar
to be (temporary / location)
falar
to speak
como se
as if
o desvio
the embezzlement
Questions & Answers about Falavam como se estivéssemos a encobrir o desvio.
Why use estivéssemos a encobrir instead of just the simple subjunctive encobríssemos?
The phrase estivéssemos a encobrir is the Continuous Subjunctive. Just like the continuous tenses in the indicative, using the imperfect subjunctive of estar plus a plus the infinitive emphasizes that the action was actively ongoing at that moment in the past. While encobríssemos is grammatically correct here, the continuous form precisely captures the feel of 'were covering up' rather than 'covered up'.
Does como se always trigger the imperfect subjunctive?
Yes, como se (as if) introduces a hypothetical or unreal comparison, which always requires the Imperfect Subjunctive in Portuguese. In this sentence, it forces the auxiliary verb estar into its imperfect subjunctive form, estivéssemos.
If the main verb was in the present tense (Falam), would the subjunctive verb change?
No, it would stay exactly the same! If you say Falam como se estivéssemos a encobrir, it means 'They speak as if we were covering up'. Because como se sets up a scenario contrary to reality, it always takes the imperfect subjunctive, regardless of whether the main verb before it is in the past or the present tense.
Does the word desvio always mean embezzlement?